Bradford, Sullivan counties gear up for first day of deer hunting season

Review Photo/JAMES LOEWENSTEIN
Dale Fulmer, owner of Fulmer's Sporting Goods in Wysox Township, shows some of the store's cash register tape for sales on Sunday, when business was boosted by people seeking items for deer hunting season.

Candy Haverly, 45, of LeRaysville said she has gone deer hunting every year since she was 12 years old.

"I only missed one year, when my daughter was born on the second day of buck season," she said.

Haverly said she learned to hunt from her 80-year-old father, Joseph "John" Karpauitz, who still deer hunts and who she said has been deer hunting each year since he was 18. She said the only year her father didn't deer hunt was when he was hospitalized for an aneurism.

Last year, Haverly's daughter, who is now almost 13, bagged a buck during her first year of deer hunting, according to Candy Haverly.

Deer hunting "is something everybody up here does," said Sheila Hakes, commander of Rome V.F.W. Post 6824, which held a "Hunter's Breakfast" on Sunday to raise money for the post's auxiliary. A total of 134 people attended the breakfast, many of them deer hunters, she said.

Besides the V.F.W. post, deer hunting season this year was, as usual, benefiting local businesses.

"We've been busy," due to hunters buying supplies and equipment for deer season, said Dale Fulmer, owner of Fulmer's Sporting Goods in Wysox Township.

Fulmer's wife, Kay, said the shop has benefited from the many gas industry workers who enjoy hunting.

"They come in here by the dozen," she said. "They earn good wages, and have a lot of money to spend, but not much of an outlet to spend it on. So if they've ever hunted before, they'll start again" when they stay in Bradford County, she said.

The Harrington Hotel in Dushore and the Comfort Inn and the RiverStone Inn in Wysox Township were all full on Sunday, due to deer hunters, according to owners and managers of the hotels.

Gregg Murrelle, operations director for the Comfort Inn and RiverStone Inn, said some deer hunters, as they are checking out, will book rooms at the hotels for the following year's deer season.

Hunters and trappers are reminded they no longer are required to display their licenses on an outer garment, Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe said in a press release that was issued by the Game Commission earlier this month.

"The Game Commission supported legislation that was enacted last year and took effect earlier this year to remove the statutory requirement that licenses be displayed," Roe said. "Hunters now may place their hunting license in their wallet with other ID, as they are required to have a second form of identification with them while hunting."

James Loewenstein can be reached at (570) 265-1633; or email: jloewenstein@thedailyreview.com.

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